ays full and
precise. These documents afford the best evidence of the statements I
have made concerning his system, as the following will show:
_Copy of Stephen Girard's Letter to Mr. ----, Commander and
Supercargo of the ship ----, bound to Batavia._
PHILADELPHIA, ----.
SIR--I confirm my letters to you of the ---- ult., and the ----
inst. Having recently heard of the decease of Mr. ----, merchant at
Batavia, also of the probable dissolution of his house, under the
firm of Messrs. ----, I have judged it prudent to request my
Liverpool correspondents to consign the ship ----, cargo, and
specie on board, to Mr. ----, merchant at Batavia, subject to your
control, and have requested said Liverpool friends to make a
separate invoice and bill of lading for the specie, which they will
ship on my account, on board of the ship ----, and similar
documents for the merchandise, which they will ship in the same
manner; therefore, I request that you will sign in conformity.
I am personally acquainted with Mr. ----, but not with Mr. ----,
but I am on very friendly terms with some particular friends of the
latter gentleman, and consequently I give him the preference. I am
sorry to observe, however, that he is alone in a country where a
partner appears to me indispensable to a commercial house, as well
for the safety of his own capital as for the security of the
interests of those who may confide to them property, and reside in
distant parts of the globe.
The foregoing reflections, together with the detention of my ship
V----, at Batavia, from June last, epoch of her arrival at that
port, until the 15th of September, ----, when she had on board only
nineteen hundred peculs of coffee, are the motives which have
compelled me to request of my Liverpool friends to consign the
specie and goods, which they will ship on my account, on board of
the ship ----, under your command, to said Mr. ----, subject to
your control.
Therefore, relying upon your activity, perseverance, correctness,
zeal, and attention for my interest, I proceed in pointing out to
you the plan of conduct which I wish you to pursue on your arrival
at Batavia, and during your stay at that or any port of that
island, until your departure for Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, to
await my subs
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